As celebrities increasingly find themselves at the intersection of entertainment, business and politics, questions about the responsibilities that come with public influence are taking center stage. Rachel Noerdlinger, an equity partner and strategist at Actum, explores those issues in a new op-ed published in Essence Magazine titled “The Business of Taking a Stance.”
In the piece, Noerdlinger examines the relationship between celebrity influence, corporate decision-making and political expression, using the controversy surrounding the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore tour as a case study. Her analysis considers what happens when organizations or institutions bearing a public figure’s name make political decisions while that individual continues to identify as apolitical.
Drawing on 35 years of experience in crisis management and strategic communications, Noerdlinger offers a perspective shaped by her work with Fortune 10 executives, entertainment industry leaders and civil rights figures. She argues that public figures cannot always separate their personal political preferences from the broader influence and authority associated with their names, businesses and professional platforms.
“In an age when fame itself is power, being apolitical is a personal preference, not a public reality,” Noerdlinger writes.
The op-ed challenges readers to consider the distinctions between an individual’s personal beliefs, corporate decisions, contractual authority and censorship. Rather than treating every institutional decision as a direct reflection of a celebrity’s personal position, Noerdlinger encourages a closer examination of who actually holds decision-making power and the standards used to reach those decisions.
Her argument also raises questions about accountability in an entertainment landscape where celebrity brands often extend beyond performances into business partnerships, tours, organizations and other commercial ventures. When political decisions involve these institutions, the relationship between public image and institutional responsibility can become complicated.
Noerdlinger’s professional background places her at the intersection of communications, entertainment and public affairs. At Actum, a global public strategy firm recognized among the world’s fastest-growing privately held companies, she made history as its first Black female equity partner.
Through her Essence commentary, Noerdlinger brings attention to the growing challenges facing celebrities and organizations navigating public expectations in an increasingly politically conscious environment.
Ultimately, “The Business of Taking a Stance” asks a fundamental question about modern celebrity influence: When a decision carries political implications, who made it, what authority did they exercise, and what principles guided the outcome?
The op-ed offers readers an opportunity to look beyond headlines and examine the structures of power, responsibility and influence operating behind the scenes.